Eight hours in coach wasn't as bad as I feared, but it still wasn't that great. I didn't have to get up to use the facilities, so when we landed and it was time to go, my legs were a little stiff, but not so bad. The plane was a 767-400 which is 2-3-2 in seating, and the seats are fairly wide for coach.
The flight to Rome took Candice and I through Paris Charles de Gaulle airport for a two-hour layover. CDG is a mess right now with much construction around the entire airport. Our plane landed and parked in the middle of a temporary parking lot for planes and we walked down a ladder to the jetway to an awaiting bus. Apparently, the French are not big on safety, as they packed as many of us onto the bus as possible - all standing and holding on to the nearest support. The driver careemed through a maze of painted drive-ways around the airport, through other jetways, around terminals, several u-turns, and finally to a terminal awaiting our arrival. Walking through CDG was a little strange as English is not the primary language (duh!), but many of the signs in an airport are very similar, so with some trial and error, we found our way through baggage claim and on through customs. Customs was a non-event. No line, no waiting, no searching - just a stamp from the French security guy.
Our terminal was f2 (see picture), and it was within walking distance - although it was a long walk! Baggage security in France about as strict as in the US - but a little different. One doesn't have to remove his shoes, but belts must be removed. Random people are searched more thoroughly - I was one of them, but it was no big deal. I guess Candice looks less threatening, as she avoided the pat-down. Two hours in the CDG found me sleeping most of the time until our plane was ready to depart.
Another bus jam-packed with passengers swept us around the airport again to our plane. This plane was smaller - maybe a 737 or 757 - either way, we were in the very last row (28 A and B) - and the seats were about 3 inches narrower. Uncomfortable as I was, I slept from take-off to landing as it was 5AM in the ATL at this time and we had been up since morning the day before.
We arrived pretty much on time - 1:10 PM local time at Rome Fiumicino (FCO) - which is 6 hours ahead of ATL. FCO was a little more difficult to navigate than CDG, but still ok. I guess we were looking for the customs area - but there was none - maybe because once we were in Paris and therefore the EU, we weren't required to get a new stamp. Either way, we were also consumed with finding a phone card so we could make contact with the appartment owner where we were staying. After asking several stores, we found one and then after several tries, figured out how to dial a phone number in Italy. Next up was finding the train - which came pretty easily - the "Leonardo Express" took us to Rome for 11 Euro each in about 30 minutes.
Next up - Rome.....
1 comment:
The phones in Italy must still be "different". When we were there we wanted to call you guys at home, and it took us an entire morning to locate a phone & learn how to use it. No cell phones or phone cards then.
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